Washington D.C. – is the Washington D.C. – is the capital of the USAcapital of the USA

Washington D.C. – is the capital of the USA. It is situated in theWashington D.C. – is the capital of the USA. It is situated in the east of the east of the country, on the bank of the river Potomac. A hundred square miles were country, on the bank of the river Potomac. A hundred square miles were taken from states of Maryland and Virginia. It was called the District of taken from states of Maryland and Virginia. It was called the District of

Columbia. The city is divided into four sections: NW, NE, SW, and SE. Columbia. The city is divided into four sections: NW, NE, SW, and SE. Numbered streets run north and south: First Street, Second Street … Numbered streets run north and south: First Street, Second Street …

Lettered streets such as A-street, B-street run east and west. Bear in mind Lettered streets such as A-street, B-street run east and west. Bear in mind that every section has an independent street system. If you’re looking for that every section has an independent street system. If you’re looking for

Third Street, you need to know what section of the city it is in.Third Street, you need to know what section of the city it is in.

The city was founded in 1790 when the first US president George The city was founded in 1790 when the first US president George Washington chose the place for the city. The city was named Washington chose the place for the city. The city was named

after the first president.after the first president.

► Washington is not a Washington is not a very big city, about very big city, about 500 thousand 500 thousand people live there. people live there. There are a lot of There are a lot of parks, gardens, parks, gardens, museums in the museums in the city. There is no city. There is no industry, industry, skyscrapers in the skyscrapers in the city.city.

The main sightseeing of Washington is the White House. The White House is the official The main sightseeing of Washington is the White House. The White House is the official residence of American President. The building was designed in 1772 byresidence of American President. The building was designed in 1772 byJames HobanJames Hoban and and

8 years later and 2.5 million dollars the house was ready. In 1780 the second US 8 years later and 2.5 million dollars the house was ready. In 1780 the second US president became the first host of the residence. At the beginning of its history the president became the first host of the residence. At the beginning of its history the

White House was called the Presidents’ House, the President palace and the President White House was called the Presidents’ House, the President palace and the President Castle. Only in 1901 it got this well-known name- the White House.Castle. Only in 1901 it got this well-known name- the White House.

► Now the white House has 6 floors, Now the white House has 6 floors, 132 rooms, 35 bath-rooms, 412 132 rooms, 35 bath-rooms, 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fire-places, 8 doors, 147 windows, 28 fire-places, 8 stairs, 3 lifts, a tennis court, a stairs, 3 lifts, a tennis court, a swimming –pool, a cinema.swimming –pool, a cinema.

► Another famous Another famous building of building of Washington is the Washington is the Capitol. The Capitol Capitol. The Capitol is the place where is the place where the Us Congress the Us Congress meets and makes meets and makes laws. The building laws. The building began in 1793 and began in 1793 and finished in 1830.finished in 1830.

► The Washington Monument, The Washington Monument, the tallest stone structure in the tallest stone structure in the USA, is in the Potomac the USA, is in the Potomac River. It was opened to the River. It was opened to the public in 1888. It is 555 feet public in 1888. It is 555 feet tall, is called the “Pencil” tall, is called the “Pencil” because of its shape. It is because of its shape. It is three blocks south of the three blocks south of the White House. There is an White House. There is an elevator, which will carry elevator, which will carry you to 500-foot level you to 500-foot level observation windows.observation windows.

►Outside the city the Outside the city the Arlington National Arlington National Cemetery is Cemetery is situated. John situated. John Kennedy was buried Kennedy was buried there. The famous there. The famous Tomb of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is Unknown Soldier is also situated there.also situated there.

► There a lot of There a lot of universities in universities in Washington . They Washington . They are Harvard are Harvard University, University, Georgetown Georgetown University, George University, George Washington Washington UniversityUniversity American American university and etc.university and etc.

National Museum of Natural History was founded in 1910. It National Museum of Natural History was founded in 1910. It has the great collection of plants, animals, minerals.has the great collection of plants, animals, minerals.

The National Gallery of Art exhibits thousands of the world’s The National Gallery of Art exhibits thousands of the world’s finest canvases. The Gallery's collection of some 116,000 finest canvases. The Gallery's collection of some 116,000 paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, sculpture, and paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, sculpture, and

decorative arts traces the development of Western art from decorative arts traces the development of Western art from

the Middle Ages to the presentthe Middle Ages to the present. . The National Gallery of Art The National Gallery of Art was created in 1937 for the people of the United States of was created in 1937 for the people of the United States of

America by a joint resolution of Congress, accepting the gift of America by a joint resolution of Congress, accepting the gift of financier and art collector Andrew W. Mellonfinancier and art collector Andrew W. Mellon